_ The Betrayal

With my own eyes, I saw Axel professing his love for Rosa. I saw him. 

The words echoed in my head, over and over again, as if my mind refused to process them properly. The scene replayed in flashes; Axel's voice that was tender and full of warmth. The way his hands brushed against Rosa's skin, the way he looked at her, the way he… 

I sucked in a shaky breath, pressing a hand to my stomach.

I had been so sure.

So, so sure.

I had defended him. I had sworn up and down that Axel would never hurt me. That he was different. That he cared.

And yet.

I closed my eyes, but the memory was still there, burned into the back of my eyelids like. 

Had Mateo been right all along?

No. No. I couldn't…